Mums' night out: Painting and sipping with Cork & Canvas

Fab things to do for a date night in Sydney

Australia’s first paint and sip company – and the only one to allow guests to BYO food (charcuterie board, here we come) to enjoy with your wine – Cork & Canvas runs two- and three-hour guided painting sessions led by professional local artists from 7pm, Tuesday to Sunday. With studios in Darlinghurst, Bondi Junction and now Crows Nest, this is a must-do for your next date night or mums’ night out.

Plan your visit according to a range of themed nights, from regulars including ‘Paint your Pet’ night to special editions such as the Halloween glow-in-the-dark session. The best part? No painting experience is required, a relieving piece of information if, like me, you haven’t picked up a paint brush since primary school.

The night of our visit, it is ‘Paint your Mate’ night at the Crows Nest studio. Walking in we are met with walls lined with beautiful paintings – a collection showcasing the other wannabe artists who came before us. Local artist and instructor, Ben Walsh, greets us at the door and guides us to a station laid with wine glasses, cheese boards and other bits and bobs for us to set up our nibbles. We stash our belongings in the cubby hole and don our aprons.

How can an amateur such as myself create a masterpiece like those on the wall, you may wonder. Simply, Ben has the teaching process refined down to an art (if you’ll forgive the pun), with the class broken down into manageable sections that make the whole process achievable and enjoyable. A range of visual guides offer prompts and inspiration, as does an assistant also walking through the class, offering support and guidance.

Throughout the class, anticipation builds as you wonder how your fellow artists are faring, leading up to the ‘big reveal’. My own excitement surprises me as I add my finishing touches, and we have a ball as we each unveil our masterpieces to one another.

Plentiful laughter, a dash of creativity and delicious wine and cheese – what more could you ask for?